Car-coupling.



i W. S. SCHROEDER.

GAB. UOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 7, 1908.

Patented Oct, 5, 1969.

W. S. SGHROEDBR.

GAR GOUPLING.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 7, 190e.

Patented Oct. 5 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

oivrrnn sTA'rEs PATENT neigen.

WILLIAM S. SCHROEDER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, 0F CLEVE- LAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CA R-COUPLIN G.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application led December 7, 1908. Serial No. 466,326.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, fuman S. SoHRoE- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Car-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car couplers, and more particularly to improvements upon the car coupler forming the subject, of my pending application, Serial No. 430,397, filed May 1st, 1908.

The object of my invention is to provide the oar coupler of my said pending application with a simple and etlicient means for automatically throwing the knuckle closed.

My invention consists in the means l employ to practically'accomplish this object or result. That is to say, it consists in providing the tail of the knuckle with an upwardly projecting flange adapted to be engaged by a hook or projection on the lifting arm of the laterally or transversely extending side lift lever so thatr the knuckle may thus be automatically closed, as well as opened, by operation of the lifting lever and connecting parts.

My invention also consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described.

ln the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a car coupler embodying iny'invention. F ig. 2 is a Isimilar view showing the knuckle thrown open to its full extent. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3 of 'Fig'. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sel-tion on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view. Figs. (5 and 7 are detail views of the lock. Fig. S is a detail plan view of one member of the double einled side lift lever and Fig. S) is a rear elevation of the knuckle. Fig. 10 is a section on line 1()-10 of Fig.

ln the drawing, A represents the drawhead of the coupler, having the customary pivot arm a and guard arm al; l5 the knuckle, having the customary front arm or nose b and rear arm or tail bl, C the pivotpin, D the vertically movable side lift lock fitting in the vertical aperture a2 of the draw-head; and F F1- the double ended two piece side lifting lever extending laterally through Vthe draw-head and F2 F2 the operating or handy levers extending to the side of the car and coupled or connected, one to each end of the side lift lever F F1.

The draw-head A has a lock-set seat c on its lower web or floor a* adjacent to the lock aperture a2 therein. The rear arm or tail 1 of the knuckle is furnished with the.customary hook or extension b2, and with a flat upright lace btt to engage the lock. The rear arm or tail of the knuckle is also provided on its under side with an upwardly and laterally extending knuckle throwing incline b4, and also on its upper side or face with an upper and inner track, way or in-.

eline bf', and a lower or outer track, way or incline o for the lock D to ride upon as the knuckle swings open and closed. inclines b5 preferably intersecteach other, about as shown in the drawing,"and the upper and inner one 7), or the one which is nearer the pivot of the knuckle. serves to lift or disengage the lock from its lockset seaton the draw-head when the knuckle begins to swing open, the further opening movement ofthe knuckle then permitting the lock to drop back slightly ott o-f the upper incline, Zr", onto the lower one Z". the path or course of which is such as to so guide the lock, on its descent into the coupling position when the knuckle subsequently closes, that the lock cannot in such descent again engage the., lock-set seat on the draw-head. This positively and absolutely prevents all failure to couple by reason of the lock on its descent rengaging the lock set seat.

The lock D is provided at its lower end with a downwardly and forwardly projecting lock set leg or extension (I. having a curved or cam-like upper face (Z1 adapted to engage the knuckle throwing incline 1)* onthe rear arm or tail of the knuckle to throw the knuckle oien. The vertically movable gravity lock is provided on the knuckle side thereof with a recess (lhaving an upper curved 01 cani-like wall or face ci? for the The two has an upright back wall als.

y bent lifting arm f of the lifting lever l" F1 to engage or slide and lift against, and having a lower wall or stop shoulder alt. This shoulder d* acts as a stop to prevent creep 5 ing of the lock when the knuckle and lock arel in their closed or coupled positi-onnby engagement with theflower end of the lifting arm f,as will be readily understood from Fig. 1 of the drawing. The recess Z2 also The lock l) also-has lat its froht corner a shoulder d which engages and rides upon the inclines or Ways b5 lb of the knuckle' tail.

The double ended or two piece side lift- `ing lever F F 1extends horizontally through.

a side opening or bearing ya in the drawhead at one side thereof above the knuckle tail, and the draw-head is also provided with a horizontally and forwardly extending covered recess a to accommodate the shank portion f1 of' the member F of the lifting lever when the same is swung horizontally forward to enable its right angle lifting arm'f to be removed from the drawhead through said opening a5.

The two members F F1 of the lifting lever are preferably telescopically secured' together, the member F having ,a square or non-circular end f2 which tits 1n a correspending socket f3 in the sleeve member F1 of the lifting lever, the two parts being detachably connected together by a removable cotter pin f4. Each. member' of the lifting lever is provided at its outer end with a right angle hook eye f5 for detachable connection and engagement with the corresponding hook arm fo of the hand lever l`2 which extends to the side of the car. To impart to the lock a further opening move- 40 ment and thus cause the same to throw the knuckle completely open, l provide the draw-head with an integral cap or housing al which covers the lock and has an inclined shoulder all which cooperates with the inclined end d, of the lock D so that the final portion of the upward swinging movement of the lifting arm j' of the lifting lever l" willforce the lower end of the lock iforward against the knuckle throwing .incline o4 of the knuckle tail and thus throw the knuckle iully and completely open. 'l'he hand levers l"2 which extend to the side of the car are each lotscly supported by brackets lf secured to the lront ol" the car. 'lfhe loose or knuckle joint-like connection formed ce .any binding strain between the lifting .lever und the hand lever. The draw-herul A is provided with an inclined projection o. under which the lock-set and knuckkx throwing leg or extension of the lock fits when the v l i lock is in its lower-most or closed position. This aids 1n preventing the lock l'rom creeping when the cars are coupled together.

. When the lock is lifted by the side lifting lever F Fl, the lower end of the lock swings slightly backward at the initial upward niovenicnt to permit the knuckle throwing leg to clear this rearward projection a12 'lot the draw-head.' l

The tail b1 of the knuckle is provided 'or its upper side with a curved ange or rib bl which is adapted to be engaged by a hook or projection j'7 on the liftingarm j' of the member F of the side iii't lever and thus cause the rotation of the side lift lever in the direction opposite to that for lifting the lock to automatically close the knuckle. I thus, without increasing the parts from my improved coupler, and without materially increasing the cost of construction of either .the knuckle or the side lift lever F, enable lower end of the pivot pin C to hold the same in place and keep it from being-accidentally or maliciously removed.' The lock housingwl of the draw-head also serves as a stop to prevent the withdrawal of the lock upward, the construction oi' the `lock being such that it may be withdrawn through the knuckle cavity in the draw-head lwhen the knuckle is removed therefrom.

l hereby disclaini as not of my invention, the devices shown and described in the Job ll. Stricklan application, Serial No. 380,861, liled June 26th, i907, and in the Henry (higger application, Serial No. 386,446, iled July l, 190i. f 1

l claim l. ln a car coupler, the combination with a draw-head, pivoted knuckle and vertically movable lock of a rotatable side lift lever extiuiding laterally througl'i the draw-head and provided with a lifting arm having a knuckle closing hook, the tail of said knuckle having a knuckle closing liange adapted to be engaged by said 'hook on the knuckle throwing arm oi the lifting lever, substantially as specified. i

2. ln a car coupler, the comin-nation with a draw-head, pivot'ed knuckle and vertically movable lock, ot' a two piece detachable side lift lever extending laterally through the draw-head and having at the outer end of cach member means 'l'or connection with a hand lever, said knuckle tail und the lifting 'arm ol the liiting lever havingv interengaginn devices to close the knuckle, substantially as specified.

In a car coupler, the combination with e draw-head, pivoted knuckle and vertically knuckle teil and lock being provided with mevable lock of e rotatable side lift lever extending laterally through the drew-head and open7 substantially as' specified. provided with a lifting erin having a knuckle closing ligok, the tail of said knuckle I VILLIAM S' SCHROEDER? having e knuckle closing flange adapted to lllitnesses: be, engaged by said hook on the knuckle H. M. MUNDAY, throwing erm of tlie lifting lever, said PEARL ABRAMS.

interengaging devices to throw the knuckle 10 

